As the Industry Works Toward 100 Percent Cargo Screening ...

April 15, 2009
... challenges remain. That’s the word from a panel brought together this week via a webinar sponsored by Air Cargo World and featuring reps from American Airlines, freight forwarders, and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. According to the panel, the “low-hanging fruit†– that is, the first 50 percent screening goal – was achieved on schedule in February. To achieve 100 percent screening of cargo in the belly of U.S. airliners by August 2010, they say, better communication between industry and TSA is needed, along with a more streamlined process for bringing new technology online. Brandon Fried, executive director of the Airforwarders Association, says that the TSA goal of screening all cargo on narrow-body U.S. air carriers was achieved without “a lot of heartacheâ€. Moving forward, he calls on Congress to provide appropriate funding and encourages TSA to provide more outreach, more communication. “We also urge Congress to identify real risks,†comments Fried, and to provide “risk-based solutionsâ€. Asa Hutchinson, a former undersecretary at DHS and the current chairman of the Safe Commerce Coalition, points out that a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report suggests that 100 percent screening could actually make the system less secure. GAO cautions that using available resources on screening everything, even those items that may not pose a risk, could reduce the focus on higher risk shipments. Hutchinson also calls on TSA to keep an eye on international partnerships and to work closely with them in achieving U.S. screening goals – not just regulating with a “heavy handâ€, which is how the agency is viewed by some. Dave Brooks, president of American Airlines Cargo, echoes the panel’s sentiment that to be successful, the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP), as it is called, needs to focus on those shipping the goods. Somebody got the message that it’s a supply chain initiative, says Brooks. He also cautions: “If we fail to comply with this law and don’t give CCSP the opportunity to be fully compliant, shame on us.†According to TSA, more than 100 facilities have been certified as participants in the CCSP with more than 30 new companies being certified each week. Fried at the Airforwarders Association points out that he currently sees more independent screening companies emerging, which TSA sees as an important component of the overall initiative. On the subject of technology, Chris Connell, president of Commodity Forwarders Inc., challenges TSA to help industry address the issue of skid-level screening and encourages the expedited integration of new technology. “At least there’s a dialog,†he says, “which is half the battle moving forward.†Regarding his company’s investment in the technology to achieve the TSA goal, Connell comments that “we’re not getting enough return on that investment right now.†The entire webinar is available at www.aircargoworld.com/screening. Thanks for reading. jfi